aquilo

Aquilo is the Latin name for the north wind, a personification in ancient Roman mythology. As the Roman counterpart of the Greek Boreas, Aquilo is considered one of the Anemoi, the group of wind gods. In Roman literature and art, he embodies the cold, biting air that blows from the north and is commonly associated with winter, frost, and storms. He is not typically the focus of a major cult, but appears in poems, mosaics, and vase paintings as a symbolic figure of the northern wind.

In representations, Aquilo is often depicted as a strong youth or bearded man, sometimes shown with wings or driving a chariot to convey the power and motion of the wind. His imagery emphasizes wintry weather and the season’s changes, serving as a literary and artistic sign of cold northern air rather than as a dominant divine presence.

Over time, Aquilo influenced later European traditions of wind personifications, contributing to the enduring device of naming winds after deities. In modern Latin usage, Aquilo may appear as the generic designation for the north wind in contrast to more individualized deities.